Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A LOCK AND KEY COMBINATION WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF CODES
Field of the invention
The invention concerns a lock and key combination, offering a
large number of codes, the combination including a lock of the
kind comprising a housing having a cylindrical bore, a cylind-
rical key plug being rotatably journalled in said cylindrical
bore, said key plug having a longitudinal key slot and a num-
ber of locking pins in a row along a key plug axis for locking
the key plug against rotation in the cylindrical bore, each
locking pin in said row comprising a body part being guided
for elevational movement in a cylindrical chamber, and a key
sensing part projecting downwards from said body part for con-
tacting one or more code patterns on a key, and a key of the
kind comprising a longitudinally extending, substantially flat
key blade, which is insertable into said key slot in the key
plug of said lock, wherein at least two longitudinally exten-
ding formations on said key blade form said code patterns.
Such lock and key combinations are well-known, e.g. from the
international patent application published under number
WO 2005/028789 Al (Winloc et al). In the previously known lock
and key combination, the locking pins cooperating with a code
pattern on the lower portion of the key blade, are constituted
by side locking tumblers being accommodated in associated
chambers displaced sideways in relation to a row of locking
pins cooperating with a code pattern at an upper edge portion
of the key blade.
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Background of the invention
Accordingly, in the prior art lock and key system referred to
above, there are in fact two adjacent rows of locking tumb-
lers, each cooperating with an associated code pattern on the
key blade. Of course, the structure and production of such
locks and keys are rather complex and expensive.
Object of the invention
Against this background, a main object of the present inven-
tion is to provide a lock and key combination which is rela-
tively simple to manufacture and, nevertheless, offers a very
large number of code combinations by using virtually the full
vertical extension of the key blade for the code patterns, in-
cluding an upper edge portion and a lower, massive portion
thereof. Still, the aim is to utilize a housing and a key plug
having a single, preferably linear row of holes or chambers
accommodating the tumbler pins.
Summary of the invention
According to the invention, this object is met for a lock and
key combination where the key blade comprises an upper por-
tion, preferably at an upper half of the key blade, e.g. an
edge portion, having a first code pattern and a lower,
preferably massive portion at a lower half of the key blade,
having a second code pattern, at least one of said locking
pins in said row being a short pin comprising a first,
relatively short key sensing part cooperating with the first
code pattern, and at least another one of said locking pins in
said row being a long pin comprising a second, relatively long
key sensing part cooperating with the second code pattern.
In this way, it will be possible to utilize virtually the
whole vertical extension of the key blade for various code
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formations, virtually all the way from the lower bottom edge
of the key blade up to the upper longitudinal edge. The short
pin or pins will cooperate with the first code pattern at the
upper part of the key blade, whereas the long pin or pins will
engage with, the code pattern at the lower, massive portion of
the key blade.
According to one aspect of the invention, the code formations
in the first code pattern, at the upper edge portion of the
key blade, are cut through the whole thickness of the key
blade. According to a further aspect of the invention, the
code formations of the second code pattern, at the lower, mas-
sive portion of the key blade, reach only partially through
the thickness of the key blade.
In any case, it will be understood that the number of vertical
code levels will be the sum of the code levels of the first
code pattern and the code levels of the second code pattern,
so in case there are two to ten levels in each of the two code
patterns, there will be four to twenty code levels in the com-
bined code pattern arrangement. Of course, this will open up
for a very large number of code combinations even for a single
row of tumbler pins in a cylinder lock.
A number of essential features of the invention are stated. in
the claims.
These essential features as well as still further features ac-
cording to other aspects of the invention, are mentioned below
in a detailed description of the invention, reference being
made to the drawings.
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Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 shows schematically, in a perspective view, a cylin-
der lock with a key plug and a number of locking pins, and an
associated key, the lock being cut through to show the inside
thereof;
Figure 2 shows s side view of the lock and key combination,
the housing of the lock being left out for clarity;
Figure 3 shows, in a perspective view, the key blade located
outside the key plug, shown also in figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 shows, in a perspective view, the same key and key
plug as in figure 3, with the row of locking pins being sepa-
rated from the key plug for clarity;
Figure 5 shows, in a perspective view, the same key blade and
locking pins as in figure 4, without the key plug;
Figure 5a shows, in a larger scale, the locking pins which are
accommodated in the key plug (the key plug is not shown in
this figure);
Figure 6 shows, in a perspective view, the same key blade and
locking pins as in figure 5, seen from the opposite side;
Figure 6a shows the locking pins accommodated in the key plug,
in a larger scale (the key plug is not shown in this figure);
Figure 7 shows, in a perspective view, a lock and key combina-
tion according to a second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8 shows a side view of the second embodiment;
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Figure 9 shows, in a perspective view, the key blade, the key
plug and the locking pins of the second embodiment, the hou-
sing of the lock being left out for clarity;
5
Figure 10 shows the same key blade and key plug and locking
pins as in figure 9, the locking pins being shown separately
for clarity;
Figure 11 shows, in a perspective view, the same key and lock-
ing pins as in figure 10, the key plug being left out for
clarity;
Figure lla shows, in a larger scale, the locking pins accommo-
dated in the key plug (the key plug itself being left out);
Figure 12 shows, in a perspective view, the key blade and the
locking pins of figure 11, from the opposite side;
Figure 12a shows, in a larger scale, the locking pins in the
key plug and the end portion of the key blade (the key plug
being left out);
Figure 13 illustrates, as an example, a number of short pins
(a through e) and long pins (f through j) according to the
first embodiment shown in figures 1 through 6;
Figure 13k shows, in a view from the left in figure 13, all
the short and long pins in figure 13a through j;
Figure 14, 15 and 16 show similar views of three modified em-
bodiments of the short and long pins of figure 13;
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Figure 17 shows, in a similar view, various short and long
pins according to the second embodiment shown in figures 7
through 12;
Figure 18a through 18i show schematic side views of a number
of possible configurations of short and long pins; a
Figures 19 through 22 illustrate a lock and key system inclu-
ding keys operating only one specific lock and other keys ope-
rating two or more different locks;
Figures 23 and 24 show schematically two different keys
cooperating with a lock having a long pin provided with two
key sensing parts; and
Figure 25 shows, in a perspective view, the long pin having
two key sensing parts.
Detailed description of some preferred embodiments
In the drawings, figures 1-3 show a cylinder lock 200 and a
key 100 in a combination according to the present invention.
The key 100 has a grip portion 101 and a key blade 102, which
comprises at least two longitudinally extending formations on
said key blade, forming said code patterns. The key is insert-
able into a key slot 201 of the lock 200. The key slot 201 ex-
tends longitudinally in a key plug 202, which is journalled
for rotation in a cylindrical bore 203 in a housing 204.
The key blade 102 (see figure 3) has a first code pattern with
top code formations 103 cut out at the upper edge portion of
the key blade, through the whole thickness thereof, e.g. of a
conventional type cooperating with relatively short locking
pins 205a, 205b and 205c (see also figures 2, 4, 5, 5a, 6, 6a
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and 13a through 13c). The key blade 102 also has a second code
pattern 104 with code formations cut only partially through
the thickness of the key blade, at the lower massive portion
thereof, and cooperating with longer pins in the same row,
viz. pins 205f, 205g and 205h (see also figures 4, 5, 5a, 6,
6a and 13f through 13h).
All these pins 205a, 205b, 205c, 205f, 205g, 205h are arranged
in a linear row in equidistant cylindrical holes or chambers
in the key plug 202. These holes or chambers are constituted
by bores 250a, 250b, 250c, 250f, 250g, 250h in the key plug
202 and are aligned with corresponding holes 220a, 220b, 220c,
220f, 220g, 220h in the housing 204. The latter holes accommo-
date upper pins 230a, 230b, 230c, 230f, 230g, 230h and com-
pression springs 240a, 240b, 240c, 240f, 240g, 240h, as is
well-known in the art. In the position shown in figures 1 and
2, where the various locking pins engage with the first and
second code patterns 103, 104 of the key blade, the upper sub-
stantially flat end portions 206 (see also fig. 5a) of the
locking pins 205a, 205b, 205c, 205f, 205g, 205h are flush with
the outer surface of the key plug, so that the key plug can be
rotated in the cylindrical bore of the housing 204.
It should be observed that the reference numerals of the pins
205a through 205h do not correspond exactly to the upper pins
230a through 230h in respect of the letters a through h.
Rather, the pins are associated to each other as follows:
205a-230a, 205b-230c, 205c-230g, 205f-230b, 205g-230f, and
205h-230h, as can be seen clearly in fig. 2.
An advantage with the present invention is that it is possible
to use a regular, linear row of cylindrical bores 250a, 250b,
250c, 250f, 250g, 250h in the key plug 202 (see fig. 4) and
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holes aligned thereto 220a, 220b, 220c, 220f, 220g, 220h in
the housing 204 for the various long and short locking pins
205a, 205b, 205c, 205f, 205g, 205h and yet have the locking
pins cooperating with code patterns extending over the entire
vertical extension of the key blade. This is made possible by
the fact that the short pins 205a, 205b, 205c cooperate with
the first code pattern 103 at the upper edge portion, at the
upper half of the key blade, and the longer pins 205f, 205g,
205h cooperate with the second code pattern 104 at the lower,
massive portion at the lower half of the key. blade 102.
As will be seen from figures 5a, 6a and figures 13a, 13b, 13c,
13f, 13g, 13h, the short pins 205a, 205b, 205c have a cylind-
rical body portion 209 extending substantially along the whole
length (or height) of the pin from the substantially flat up-
per end portion 206 to the lower, tapered end portion 207,
which serves as a key sensing portion. In this embodiment, the
key sensing end portions 207 of the short pins 205a, 205b,
205c are substantially frustro-conical with a flat or rounded
tip 208, which is smooth and has a shape substantially as a
segment of a sphere in this case.
The longer locking pins 205f, 205g, 205h, on the other hand
(see figure 6a), have a cylindrical upper body portion 209 and
a downwardly extended portion 210. At the lower end thereof,
the extended portion 210 has a tapering key sensing portion
207, the lowermost portion 208 of which is rounded so as to
provide a smooth contact with the second code pattern 104 of
the key blade. From figures 6a and figures 13f, 13g, 13h, 13i,
13j it can be clearly seen that the extended portion 210 and
the key sensing portion 207 of the longer pins are longitudi-
nally cut in half in this embodiment, as compared to a full
cylindrical shape. In this way the upper edge portion of the
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key blade can be easily accommodated in the recess formed by
the cut away portion of the longer pins. The lowermost smooth
end portion 208 of the longer pins will make contact with the
second code pattern 104 of the key blade when the key blade is
inserted into the key slot of the lock.
Normally, with six pins in the row, there will be three short
pins 205a, 205b, 205c alternating with three long pins 205f,
205g and 205h. In the shown embodiment, these pins have dif-
ferent lengths. Accordingly, the first code pattern includes
three different vertical code levels, whereas the second code
pattern includes three further vertical code levels, all in
all six vertical code levels for the pins in the row. Of
course, it is possible to have e.g. four of five code levels
in each code pattern and a corresponding number of short and
long pins having different lengths, as illustrated in figures
13 through 17.
The key sensing portions of each pin may vary in shape. In
figure 14, the key sensing portion 207' of each pin is chisel-
shaped with a symmetrically located lowermost portion 208'
(compare figure 14 k.). In figure 15, the key sensing portion
207'' is also chisel-shaped, but the lowermost portion 208''
is asymmetrically located as illustrated in figure 15k.
In figure 16, there are shown various pins having a lower end
portion 207111 with two different key sensing parts 2081''m,
2081''n of the kind described in the international patent app-
lication published under number W02007/018456.
It is not necessary that the longer pins have end portions be-
ing shaped exactly like those of the short pins. An example is
shown in figure 17, where the short pins are exactly like the
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ones shown in figures 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 13e. On the other
hand, the long pins are provided with transversal projections
211 cooperating with a code pattern formed on the lower wall
of a longitudinal groove 105' on one side of the key blade.
5 These projections 211 are shown to be cylindrical. However,
they may, alternatively, have a key contacting surface similar
those illustrated in figures 13k, 14k, 15k, and 16k, extending
along the projection.
10 In case the projections has a key contacting surface as illu-
strated in fig. 16k, the code pattern on the key blade may be
configured as disclosed in the international patent applica-
tion published under No. WO2007/018456.
The embodiment with a transverse projection is shown in more
detail in figures 7 through 12a. Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 corre-
spond to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, the only diffe-
rence being the configuration of the second code pattern 104'
(on the back of the key in figures 7-10) and the end portion
of the longer pins 205'f, 205'g and 205'h which are all pro-
vided with transverse projections 211 cooperating with the
modified second code pattern 104' illustrated in figures 12
and 12a. The short and long pins (205'a, 205'b, 205'c and
205'f, 205'g, 205'h) in this second embodiment are shown
clearly in figure lla. It will be understood that the trans-
verse projections 211 will project into the groove 105' of the
key blade on the side thereof. See figure 12 and 12a. So, the
projection 211 and the associated long pin 205'f, 205'g, 205'h
will therefore move upwards and downwards when the key 100 is
inserted into the key slot 201 in response to the second code
pattern 104'. The latter is, in this embodiment, wave-like as
described in detail e.g. in the international patent applica-
tion published under number WO 89/06733.
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In the two embodiments shown on the drawings, the long and
short pins alternate along the row. However, it is of course
possible to place the long and short pins in'a different or-
der, with two, three or four short or long pins located next
to each other. Examples of various combinations of this kind
are shown in figures 18a through 18i. There should be at least
one short pin (fig. 18i) and at least one long pin (fig. 18g)
in the row.
As illustrated in figures 19, 20, 21, 22, it is quite possible
to design locks and keys as a master-key system. For clarity
all short pins and long pins are shown to have the same
length, respectively. Of course, in practice, different coded
lengths are being used.
The lock according to fig. 19 corresponds to the one shown in
fig. 18a, whereas the lock according to fig. 20 corresponds to
the one shown in fig. 18b. The key blades 102a and 102b will
open the associated lock 200a and 200b, respectively, but not
the other. However, as will be apparent from figures 21 and
22, a master key blade 102ab will open both of the locks 200a,
200b, since it is provided with a code pattern having code
portions corresponding to all of the pins in both locks. In
fact, such a master key will also open locks having pin combi-
nations as illustrated in figures 18c through 18i (provided
that all pins have a length corresponding to each code portion
of the key blade).
Those skilled in the art can modify the embodiments disclosed
above in a number of ways within the scope of the appended
claims. The row may be located in the central vertical plane
of the key slot or be displaced somewhat sideways relative to
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such a plane. The number of pins in the row may be different.
Also, as illustrated in figures 18a through 18i, it is pos-
sible to have more long pins than short pins, or the other way
round.
It would also be possible to have key sensing parts in the
form of transverse projections (211) in figures 11a, 12a and
17g through 17j on the short pins as well as on the long pins.
Then, the code pattern at the upper edge portion of the key
does not have to be cut through the whole thickness of the key
blade. If necessary, the pins may be provided with guiding
means, e.g. in the form of wings, such as those disclosed in
the international patent application No. PCT/SE2006/000913
that will ensure that they are rotationally controlled always
oriented correctly for proper cooperation with the key blade.
Furthermore, at least one of the long pins may be provided
with two key contacting parts, as illustrated in figs. 23
through 25. Here, the row of locking pins includes two short
pins 205a, 205b and four long pins 205f, 205g, 205h, 205i. The
long pin 205i located near the tip of the key blade (see fig.
25) has a first key sensing part 2081 located at the lowermost
end of the pin, at the end of the downwardly projecting,
relatively narrow portion 210, and a second key sensing part
208u located at an upper part of the pin, at the lower end of
the cylindrical portion 209 thereof.
The first key contacting part or surface portion 2081
cooperates with the second, lower code pattern 104 (at a code
portion 104i) of a first associated key 100A (fig. 24), in the
same way as in the embodiments described above, whereas the
second, upper key contacting part or surface portion 208u
(fig. 23) cooperates with the upper code pattern 103 of a
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second associated key 100B, where the upper code pattern has a
relatively shallow cut 103i near the upper edge of the key
blade. Thus, the first and second key contacting parts 2081,
208u cooperate with different code patterns 103,104 of
different associated keys 100B,100A.
By this feature, the code combinations can be increased even
more, and keys with key blades having shallow and deep upper
cuts can be used in master key systems. It is also possible to
differentiate between the lower and upper key sensing parts by
allocating keys having a key blade with a small height (from
the lower edge to the upper edge) for contacting the lower key
sensing part 2081 with the second, lower code pattern 104 and
keys having a key blade with a greater height (from the lower
edge to the upper edge) for contacting the upper key sensing
part 208u with the first, upper code pattern 103.
However, according to the invention, there should always be at
least one short pin cooperating with a first, upper code
pattern and at least one long pin cooperating with a second,
lower code pattern of an associated key.
It is also conceivable to make two code patterns on each side
of the key blade, in such a way that the key is turnable
upside down and can still operate a lock. In such a case, the
massive part of the blade may be located at half the height of
the key blade, with a first code pattern situated on each
longitudinal edge of the key blade. Alternatively, the key
blade may have a substantially uniform thickness all the way
between the longitudinal edges.
